ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca Common Council voted unanimously Wednesday to establish a new Deputy City Manager position. The role is designed to oversee the city’s reimagined public safety initiatives, such as creating an unarmed response unit, and to assist in managing the city’s encampment response protocol.
While the vote was unanimous, council members voiced differing opinions about the position’s broad job description. Some argued that the wide-ranging responsibilities would allow the role to address various public safety issues effectively, while others expressed concern that the scope might be too extensive.
Discussions about the position began in 2022 when the Common Council proposed a Deputy Chief of Staff role to support public safety initiatives. By 2023, the role was redefined as Deputy City Manager, and the Council adopted these recommendations in April. The Civil Service Commission approved the job description on July 5, with an annual salary set between $110,000 and $130,000. When benefits are included, the total compensation is estimated at $150,000.
The Deputy City Manager will oversee the Ithaca Police Department’s crisis co-response team, lead programs like the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), and coordinate overall public safety efforts. The position will also be responsible for developing a crisis co-response approach, which is a crucial part of the city’s new public safety model.
Additionally, the role will include implementing a community concerns reporting mechanism through SeeClickFix and providing monthly public safety updates to the Common Council.
Despite the overall support, some council members questioned the necessity of such a high salary for the role, with concerns about potential duplication of duties with the City Manager’s responsibilities. Alderperson Margaret Fabrizio expressed skepticism, saying, “We do not need to fund a Deputy City Manager position at $150,000 in addition to what we have. This looks extremely duplicative.”
However, other council members, including Alderperson Kayla Matos, defended the broad scope, arguing that it is essential for fully implementing the city’s public safety reforms. Mayor Robert Cantelmo also supported the position, emphasizing that it represents the culmination of years of work to improve public safety in Ithaca.
The Deputy City Manager will also work closely with the proposed Encampment Response Coordinator, a position the Common Council is considering creating to manage homeless encampments. City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff described the Coordinator as handling “immediate, day-to-day challenges,” while the Deputy City Manager would focus on broader strategy and oversight.
The Council plans to begin recruiting applicants for the Deputy City Manager role soon, with the goal of filling the position by late August.